Venezuela

Not unconditionally, and honest guides say so. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to the Colombian/Brazilian/Guyanese border strips, Zulia state, the Orinoco Mining Arc and southern Delta Amacuro, and against all but essential travel everywhere else — which can invalidate standard travel insurance. In practice, travellers who do go use experienced specialist operators with local guides, fly between regions rather than drive, and stick to the established circuit: Canaima, Los Roques, Mérida, the Llanos and Margarita.

The rainy season, May to November — the falls run at their most dramatic and the river excursions from Canaima operate. In the dry months the flow can thin to a veil and boats may not run the full route; flight-seeing still works, weather permitting.

Arriving by air, citizens of the UK, US, Canada and Australia receive a 90-day tourist card. Most other passports — including Indian — need a visa arranged in advance through a Venezuelan consulate. Entering overland from Colombia or Brazil requires a visa for everyone, and regulations genuinely change overnight, so re-confirm close to travel.

Chaotically. The bolívar suffers heavy inflation, ATMs dispense at an unfavourable official rate, and credit-card fraud is common even at established businesses. Bring US dollars in cash, change small amounts as needed at casas de cambio, pre-pay what you can through your tour operator, and bring essentials like medication with you rather than counting on local availability.

Seven to ten. Internal flights are how you move — every state except Delta Amacuro has a commercial airport — and the classic loop is Caracas → Canaima (Angel Falls) → either Los Roques or Margarita for the Caribbean, with Mérida or a Llanos wildlife ranch if you have the extra days.

Angel Falls (the world's highest waterfall at 979 m), the tepuis — table mountains that inspired Conan Doyle's Lost World — the Los Roques reef archipelago, wildlife on the Llanos plains that rivals anywhere on the continent, and a longer Caribbean coastline than any other country.